by Kate Speck
“Do you think Mr. Jones might be of help for young Anne?” Mr. Darcy asked kindly. “I would be willing to transport him to Kent to take a look at our niece.”
“You are so generous, George.” Lady Anne smiled. “Perhaps we can ask Mr. Jones if he has any suggestions based on what we know of Anne’s condition and see Anne before we raise her hopes. She has been ill all of her life and unlike my condition, which began only after Georgie’s birth, her illness might not be correctable with draughts and dietary changes. I am certain she is not contagious but I worry that Georgie will find Rosings Park terribly languid, even with Miss Carter for company.”
Mr. Darcy grinned, “Shall I ask Bennet if he might spare Lizzy for a fortnight and take her with us next March? It will be a birthday gift for her and you know how eager she is to travel.”
“That would be wonderful, George. Georgie will have a companion nearer her age and Lizzy will enjoy Rosings and perhaps we can spend a few days in London afterwards. I would love to take the girls to a little shopping.” Lady Anne stopped her speech and contemplated for a few moments. “Do you think we are showing too much preferential treatments to Lizzy? There are four other Bennet girls and I wonder if they will become jealous because we favour Lizzy above the others, especially Jane, who is two years elder. I do not wish to cause strife between the girls.”
“Bennet knows full-well that we adore Lizzy because she is so different from the other girls.” Mr. Darcy answered. “She shares whatever she receives from us and encourages the other girls to pet and feed her horse, even though the other girls are far too timid to take a ride. Jane is one of the meekest girls I have met and she honestly wishes the best for her younger sister, and her mother cannot spare her to be away. Mary is a very philosophic, no, a pious, young lady, who takes religion far too seriously at such a young age, and Bennet told me it has a lot to do with her spending too much time with Mrs. Phillips these past few years before Bennet hired the governess.”
Lady Anne giggled, “That explains it, George. She is a sombre child but has been improving. Jane has her mother who needs her constantly and Mary is far too occupied to take notice of Lizzy and Georgie’s adventures, but what of Kitty and Lydia? Lydia is very young but Kitty, she seems to sway between Mary and Lydia’s directions instead of following her own instincts. She is the same age as Georgie but she behaves much younger at times.”
“We will certainly include Kitty more in our activities if the girl is willing. Perhaps we can take Lizzy and Kitty with us to Rosings? They can keep Georgiana company and the trip will be pleasant together. Although we love Lizzy like our own, all of the Bennet girls are good girls and I am still hopeful that they will be part of our family someday by marriage.” Mr. Darcy winked.
Plans were made for Easter-time and the Darcy family soon prepared for the Ball that was being held at Netherfield, which would be the first of many in the years to come.
Year 1804
Chapter 11
March 1804
“Happy birthday, Lizzy!” William Darcy jumped from their tree branch as the little girl walked towards it, startling her to nearly fall over.
“WILL! You nearly stopped my heart!” Lizzy exclaimed as she gasped for breath. “How long have you been waiting there to scare me out of my wits?”
William laughed loudly, “Nearly half an hour, silly girl. ‘Will’? Since when did you start calling me Will? I know you did not expect me until tomorrow but I arrived early to surprise you for your birthday. Father told me you are to go to Kent with us in two days and I am very glad you will be joining us, since Rosings Park is dreadfully dull with my sick cousin sitting quietly and we are not allowed to make any noise. We shall sneak out and find the tallest tree we can climb and see who can return dirtier in order to shock my aunt, Lizzy. My mother’s sister, Aunt Catherine, is the most humourless and severe woman you will ever meet, and I would not be surprised one bit if you give her an apoplexy.”
Lizzy excitedly embraced her friend. “Welcome back, Will.” She heard William laugh, “I decided to call you ‘Will’ because there are too many Williams of my acquaintance and I wanted to give you a special name.”
“Oh? Do you think my name is too common? Perhaps you should call me ‘Fitzwilliam’ as my father does. Mama calls me William because she was Lady Anne Fitzwilliam and hated her surname being so long.” William commented. “But I think I do like Will. Will of iron! Will-o’-the-wisp? Will of the people?” He jested.
Lizzy laughed, “Will Darcy of Netherfield, not Sir William Lucas, not William Shakespeare, and certainly not my papa’s appalling cousin William Collins the elder, who is heir-presumed and will own Mary’s pianoforte stool someday. Mr. Collins wrote my father yesterday, asking about an olive branch of sorts with a future visit and papa was not happy. His son is also named William and papa hates the mention of his cousin, who ruined several maids before he married some lady for her dowry. William is too common of a name but you are special, Will.”
“You are special, too, Lizzy!” William sat down at the foot of the tree after he pulled out a small wrapped gift from its hiding place. “Shall I give you a special name as well? Charlotte Lucas calls you ‘Eliza’. Do you like that name?” He laughed, seeing her crinkled nose.
“I only like Sir William and Charlotte calling me Eliza because Lady Lucas is called Lizzy and they don’t want to call me by the same name. No one calls me Elizabeth but that is a long name and it sounds too much like a lady. Lizzy is just fine, Will.” She smiled.
“I never knew Lady Lucas’ first name, Lizzy. Perhaps I will call you Elizabeth when you become a lady. All right, all right... IF... you become a lady.” He chuckled, seeing her raise an eyebrow. “Well, are you going to take it? What is wrong with you today?” William quirked his brow as he lifted the small gift.
Lizzy frowned as she looked down. “I’m eleven today. I’m growing up too fast and mama said I must practice to behave like a lady. She said I shouldn’t be climbing trees but learn to sit still and embroider and practice on the pianoforte more. I don’t want to be a lady. I want to be anything but a dull lady...”
“Oh, Lizzy,” William held her with one arm and kissed the top of her head as they leaned back against the tree trunk. “We all have to grow up but you are only eleven. You have many years ahead of you to enjoy being yourself and do not let your mama take one single moment of the joy from your life.” He sighed, “I am nearly nineteen now and I must think about my future and it is such a burden. I was concerned about finding a wife and having an heir when my mother was ill before, but now that she is better, I am looking forward to a future with adventures and even going on my grand tour, although it will unlikely be the usual places due to the war.” He smiled. “Have you read the book I recommended? Father said you had borrowed it last month.”
Lizzy sat up straight and excitedly prattled, “Oh, yes! Don Quixote was as humorous as it was tragic and I loved the character of Sancho Panza. I practiced my sword-skills and I don’t know which I liked better; pretending to be the senseless knight or the faithful squire.” She jumped up and waved around her imaginary sword. “I know why suggested that book, Will,” she stopped her motions and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. William was still sitting down and with her standing in front of him, she was only just a little taller, being a small eleven-year-old girl, and William could not help but chuckle at the child who attempted to appear vexed.
“Why do you think, Lizzy? I only wished to share a fantastic story of a knight with you.” William answered innocently.
Lizzy tapped her foot as she crossed her arms, “I am not crazy, Will. I know everyone thinks I might have gone a little mad in the head but I know what is real and what is fiction. After Lydia was born, mama fussed for years for not having a son and I spent my time in my tree to escape the folly at home and I found books and my imagination to be my greatest companion. But with you and Mrs. Porter and Miss Carter, having my sisters improved and gaining such
a friend in Georgiana, I am finding reality more bearable and having you here... I am not insane.”
William knelt up so he could meet her eyes. “I never said you were, Lizzy. You are like a brother... well, I should say... sister, to me, my dear friend, and you are an extraordinary young person who brings a brightness to all who meet you. I hope you never forget yourself and be confident of the young woman you are becoming. I know you are sane, saner than the rest of us, I reckon, and I hope you never lose your candidness and marvel for life. I wish for you to always act in a manner which will constitute your own happiness, without reference to anyone wholly unconnected to you. You must be the best person you can be for yourself.” He kissed her cheek and embraced her.
“Thank you, Will. You are my best friend and I hope we will be friends forever. Charlotte is nearly your age and she is one of my closest friends and papa says I get along well with old people because I talk so much, but you have been nice to me from the beginning and you are a good man, Will. I always wished I had an older brother and you are the very best.” She kissed his cheek in return and sat back down next to him.
William smiled, “I feel positively ancient, Lizzy, but we are blood-brothers and I like to make you happy; a small repayment after you brought a smile to my face when we first met. Now, Lizzy, will you not accept my gift? A gentleman is not supposed to be gifting a young lady, I am understanding, but since we are blood-brothers, I am going to give you as much as I can for the rest of my life.” He lifted the small box. “Open it, Lizzy. I saw it and thought it perfect for you.”
Lizzy smiled broadly and ripped open the packaging to see a square velvet box. She slowly opened it and gasped, “Is this a pocket watch? It is much bigger than papa’s!”
“No, dear Lizzy, it is a compass.” William helped her open it. “I thought Captain Gulliver might need a compass to navigate the high seas and I had a long chain attached to it so you can wear it around your neck and not lose it.” He helped her wrap it around her neck. “Do you like it?” Lizzy looked down for several moments, which worried William. “Would you like a pocket watch instead?” He pulled out his own and was about to hand it to her when she threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly.
“This is the best gift in the whole wide world and I am not letting you go for a while. I am going to be attached to your neck and you will have to carry me because I love you and I love my gift so much.” Lizzy cried from his shoulder.
William laughed and easily stood up with her in his arms. He began to walk as he carried her, “I regret leaving Snowflake at Netherfield today, Lizzy. I wanted to surprise you so I walked over and hid in our tree, but I will carry you and we can go riding when we get home. I want to see you on Ghost and I promised Georgie I would chaperon you both while you ride. And since you and Georgie will miss your horses when we are in Kent, we will go for a long ride today.”
Lizzy bounced up and down in excitement. “Thank you, Will! With my compass, we can travel far and we’ll never be lost! I can walk now, dear brother. I want to learn how to use my compass.”
They continued their chatter and William showed her how to read the instrument and what the different signs on it meant. He promised her to show her how maps were drawn and she was determined to study the map of the world in Mr. Darcy’s study to dream of the wondrous places she wished to visit.
Chapter 12
“Laura,” the young man whispered to himself. As soon as he was able to sneak away from his family in the drawing room, he dashed to Anne de Bourgh’s room and slowly opened the door.
Seeing that Anne was sleeping, he tiptoed inside the room and placed his index finger on his lips to motion to the companion sitting on the chair to be quiet.
“What are you doing in here?” Mrs. Jenkinson hissed. “You cannot be here!”
The man grabbed her arm to pull her into the dressing room and embraced her as soon as he closed the door. “I missed you. I did not know when I would see you again and you look lovelier than before. Marry me, Laura! You know I want you as my wife. I cannot believe I am finding you here of all places. Leave now and marry me.”
He lifted her up and leaned her against the wall as he ardently kissed her lips and her arms wrapped around his neck to embrace him for several minutes.
“You know I cannot,” Mrs. Jenkinson responded as they released each other for breath. “I have found a respectable position here as your cousin’s companion and I can never marry you, Richard. I should not have kissed you.” She stood further from him and fixed her dress. “You must let go of this dream and find yourself a worthy wife; one your parents will accept and comes with a dowry and honour.”
Richard Fitzwilliam ran his fingers through his hair, “But I love you! I am one and twenty now and I make my own choices. I am a major in the army and we can be together.”
“And who purchased the commission for you? Where would we live? How would I, a disgraced daughter of a gentleman who eloped with a tradesman, show my face in your parents’ world? The earl and countess will never accept me as a daughter and I have nothing, no wealth, no family, and not even my virtue to offer you.” Mrs. Jenkinson argued. “For you to marry someone like myself would be most foolish and I cannot allow you to make such a decision. Please... go and do not come back. You will be here for a fortnight but you must not speak to me again.” She left the dressing room quickly after wiping her tears.
Richard angrily kicked the chair that was in the room and departed the room using the servants’ door. He ran outside and stormed off to the lawns to vent his anger by picking up a wooden stick and beating it on a tree trunk.
“Oi! You should not be whipping a tree like that!” He heard a noise from up above. “It did nothing to you; why are you so angry at the tree?”
Richard looked up in surprise and saw a small girl sitting on one of the branches scolding him. “What the hell are you doing up there, little girl? Are you trespassing here? Come down and I will give you a whipping!”
“You and what army?” The girl stuck out her tongue. “You are dressed like an officer but you must be an imposter. An officer carries himself with dignity and discipline and should not be whipping anyone. I am a guest here but I was tired of the dragon lady so I escaped when no one was looking to take refuge up here. Go away, officer, so you do not give away my position.”
Richard scoffed at the ridiculousness of the situation and took a deep breath. “Come down here, girl. I will not hurt you. I am truly an officer and I will behave. What is your name?”
“I am Captain Gulliver. You may call me Captain.” Lizzy answered as she expertly climbed down.
“Oh? Well, Captain,” Richard saluted as soon as the petite spitfire landed on the ground. “I am Major Fitzwilliam of His Majesty’s Army and I believe I outrank you. Salute, Captain! Back straight, chest out! Stand tall, girl!”
Lizzy immediately obeyed and did as told. “You are truly an officer? Your uniform is magnificent. I have not met a real officer before!” She looked up at him and asked, “Why were you beating a tree? Perhaps you think it is the enemy like Don Quixote? Are you all right in the head?”
Richard huffed in anger, “I am an officer and I am not crazy, you little hoyden. You should mind your manners and learn to act like a lady!” He pushed the little girl hard enough for her to fall over.
Suddenly, Richard was knocked down with a strong force and his body landed on the ground. His jaw was punched solidly that made his head spin and he looked up to see William Darcy on his chest lifting his arm for another strike when he managed to push off his cousin to avoid the hit. The two young men rolled on the grass as they struggled to overtake each other by pushing and pulling.
“HALT!” They both heard from above and froze. “Stand up, you fools, and tell me what has happened here.”
Richard and William both let go and after pushing each other apart, they stood up from the ground and began to dust off their clothes. Their hairs were mussed with grass sticking out of th
em and their clothes dirty and stained from their fight.
They saw the viscount, Robert Fitzwilliam, who was older by several years, standing with the small girl next to him. “What has happened and why are you fighting? Why is she crying?”
William rushed over to Lizzy to hug her and look her over. “Are you well, Lizzy? Did he hurt you? I saw him pushing you down onto the ground.” He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped her face for her. He glared at his cousin Richard, “Lizzy is my friend, mine and Georgie’s, and she is here as our special guest from Hertfordshire. I noticed that she had gone missing while we sat with uncle and aunt and came outside, only to find you pushing her down like a ruffian. How could you, Richard?! She is just a little girl!”
Robert Fitzwilliam crossed his arms and scowled at his younger brother. “I came out because you had been gone for so long, Richard, only to find this young lady crying and running towards the house, and you two rolling on the ground as if you were little lads again. You are one and twenty and nearly nineteen now, gentlemen. You cannot behave as if you are still boys.”
Richard sighed as he wiped the blood from his lips. “I apologise.” He approached the young girl as William protectively drew her away and Richard raised both hands in concession. He knelt by Lizzy’s feet and lifted her hand to squeeze it. “I am very sorry, Captain Gulliver. I behaved dishonourably and I did act as if I were insane. I sincerely apologise and it will not happen again.”
Lizzy nodded, still hiding a little behind William, “Apology accepted, Major. I am sorry for offending you with my indelicate speech.”
“Come, Lizzy. Georgie is waiting for you.” William huffed and they returned inside.
Robert commented as they walked back to the mansion, “You are an idiot, Richard. You may be a Major in the army but William is bigger than you now and he would have killed you if that girl had been Georgiana. He treats Lizzy like a sister and Uncle and Aunt Darcy have nothing but praise for her. Did you know she helped Aunt Anne find a cure? Aunt Anne says she owes Lizzy her life and William might never forgive you for pushing down a little girl. I have never seen him so angry.”